Chandigarh, Oct 5
The election to the 90-seat legislative Assembly on Saturday saw over 40 per cent of voters cast their ballots by 1 P.M., amidst minor skirmishes in Narnaund.
Among the early voters were outgoing Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, Opposition leaders like Bhupinder Hooda, Kumari Selja, and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
In the BJP-ruled state 2.03 crore electorates will decide the fate of 1,031 candidates.
A voter turnout of 9.53 per cent was recorded by 9 A.M, in the first two hours of polling.
According to the Election Commission data, the overall poll percentage was 40.1 per cent till 1 P.M.
Among the districts, Ambala recorded a poll percentage of 42.2, Bhiwani 40.2, Charkhi Dadri 40.8, Faridabad 32.5, Fatehabad 4208, Gurugram 33.2, Hisar 41.4, Jhajjar 40.3, Jind 43.5, Kaithal 44.5, Karnal 41.1, Kurukshetra 43.9, Mewat 45.1, Palwal 41.3, Panipat 42.4, Rewari 32.2, Rohtak 37.9, Panchkula 38.7 and Sonipat 38.6.
Sunil Kumar, a groom from Pipli village in Kurukshetra district, cast his vote before heading to his wedding.
“You should never waste your vote. I’m heading for my wedding now, but first, it was essential to cast my vote,” he said.
Likewise, BJP MP Naveen Jindal reached a polling station in Kurukshetra on a horse, to cast his vote.
Chief Minister Saini expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government for the third time with a huge margin in the state.